Electric component observation system

Abstract

An electronic component observation system includes a transparent stage for supporting thereon an electronic component which is being held by a vacuum nozzle of a transfer head, a lighting unit for illuminating outer leads of the electronic component from the above, and a camera for observing the outer leads from the underside of the transparent stage. When the electronic component being held by the vacuum nozzle is placed on the state, a deformation the outer leads is rectified. The lighting unit may include a presser portion engageable with the outer leads to force the outer leads against the stage, thereby positively shaping the outer leads into a correct form.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic component observation system for observing an electronic component having a plurality of outer leads projecting from a body of the electronic component and formed on a flexible film carrier, comprising: a stage for supporting thereon the electronic component;   a movable transfer head;   drive means for moving said transfer head;   a vacuum nozzle associated with said transfer head for releasably holding thereon the electronic component by a suction force, said transfer head being movable by said drive means, with the electronic component held by said vacuum nozzle, to force the film carrier of the electronic component against said stage to temporarily correct the shape and configuration of the outer leads which have been deformed due to curl of the film carrier;   an observation unit for observing the outer leads of the electronic components to detect an arrangement and position of the outer leads while the shape and configuration of the outer leads is temporarily corrected by forcing the film carrier against said stage;   a lighting unit for illuminating the outer leads of the electronic components with a beam of light while the film carrier is forced against said stage; and   wherein said lighting unit is composed of a pair of light projectors pivotally movable about a pair of horizontal axes, respectively, each of said light projectors having an internal light path having an open end from which said light beam is projected, and a presser portion extending around said open end of said internal light path, said presser portion, in response to pivotal movement of each of said light projectors, being engageable with a portion of the outer leads to force the film carrier against said stage.   
     
     
       2. An electronic component observation system for observing an electronic component having a plurality of outer leads projecting from a body of the electronic component and formed on a flexible film carrier, comprising: a stage for supporting thereon the electronic component;   a movable transfer head;   drive means for moving said transfer head;.   a vacuum nozzle associated with said transfer head for releasable holding thereon the electronic component by a suction force, said transfer head being movable by said drive means, with the electronic component held by said vacuum nozzle to force the film carrier of the electronic component against said stage to temporarily correct the shape and configuration of the outer leads which have been deformed due to curl of the film carrier;   an observation unit for observing the outer leads of the electronic components to detect an arrangement and position of the outer leads while the shape and configuration of the outer leads is temporarily corrected by forcing the film carrier against said stage;   a lighting unit for illuminating the outer leads of the electronic components with a beam of light while the film carrier is forced against said stage;   a static eliminator for removing static electricity from said stage; and   wherein said lighting unit is composed of a pair of light projectors pivotally movable about a pair of horizontal axes, respectively, each of said light projectors having an internal light path having an open end from which said light beam is projected, and a presser portion extending around said open end of said internal light path, said presser portion, in response to pivotal movement of each of said light projectors, being engageable with a portion of the outer leads to force the film carrier against said stage.   
     
     
       3. An electronic component observation system for observing an electronic component having a plurality of outer leads projecting from a body of the electronic component and formed on a flexible film carrier, comprising: a stage for supporting thereon the electronic component;   a movable transfer head;   drive means for moving said transfer head;   a vacuum nozzle associated with said transfer head for releasably holding thereon the electronic component by a suction force, said transfer head being movable by said drive means, with the electronic component held by said vacuum nozzle, to force the film carrier of the electronic component against said stage to temporarily correct the shape and configuration of the outer leads which have been deformed due to curl of the film carrier;   an observation unit for observing the outer leads of the electronic components to detect an arrangement and position of the outer leads while the shape and configuration of the outer leads is temporarily corrected by forcing the film carrier against said stage;   a lighting unit for illuminating the outer leads of the electronic components with a beam of light while the film carrier is forced against said stage;   wherein said stage is transparent, said lighting unit comprises at least one light projector projecting said light beam onto the outer leads of the electronic component from an upper side of the outer leads, and said observation unit is a camera observing the outer leads from the underside of said transparent stage; and   wherein said lighting unit is composed of a pair of light projectors pivotally movable about a pair of horizontal axes, respectively, each of said light projectors having an internal light path having an open end from which said light beam is projected, and a presser portion extending around said open end of said internal light path, said presser portion, in response to pivotal movement of each of said light projectors, being engageable with a portion of the outer leads to force the film carrier against said stage.   
     
     
       4. An electronic component observation system for observing an electronic component having a plurality of outer leads projecting from a body of the electronic component and formed on a flexible film carrier, comprising: a stage for supporting thereon the electronic component;   a movable transfer head;   drive means for moving said transfer head;   a vacuum nozzle associated with said transfer head for releasably holding thereon the electronic component by a suction force, said transfer head being movable by said drive means, with the electronic component held by said vacuum nozzle to force the film carrier of the electronic component against said stage to temporarily correct the shape and configuration of the outer leads which have been deformed due to curl of the film carrier;   an observation unit for observing the outer leads of the electronic components to detect an arrangement and position of the outer leads while the shape and configuration of the outer leads is temporarily corrected by forcing the film carrier against said stage;   a lighting unit for illuminating the outer leads of the electronic components with a beam of light while the film carrier is forced against said stage;   a static eliminator for removing static electricity from said stage;   wherein said stage is transparent, said lighting unit comprises at least one light projector projecting said light beam onto the outer leads of the electronic component from an upper side of the outer leads, and said observation unit is a camera observing the outer leads from the underside of said transparent stage; and   wherein said lighting unit is composed of a pair of light projectors pivotally movable about a pair of horizontal axes, respectively, each of said light projectors having an internal light path having an open end from which said light beam is projected, and a presser portion extending around said open end of said internal light path, said presser portion, in response to pivotal movement of each of said light projectors, being engageable with a portion of the outer leads to force the film carrier against said stage.   
     
     
       5. An electronic component observation system for observing an electronic component having a plurality of outer leads projecting from a body of the electronic component and formed on a normally curled flexible film carrier, comprising: a stage for supporting thereon the electronic component;   a movable transfer head;   drive means for moving the transfer head;   a vacuum nozzle associated with the transfer head for releasably holding thereon the electronic component by a suction force, the transfer head being movable by the drive means, with the electronic component held by the vacuum nozzle, to position the film carrier, remaining curled, against the stage;   a lighting unit movable to a position spaced from the component for illuminating the outer leads of the electronic components with a beam of light, the lighting unit having projections for pressing the film carrier against the stage to flatten the film carrier and the carried electrodes against the stage while the leads are illuminated; and   an observation unit for observing the outer leads of the electronic component to detect an arrangement and position of the outer leads while they are illuminated and flattened against the stage.   
     
     
       6. An electronic component observation system according to claim 5, wherein said stage is transparent, said lighting unit comprises at least one light projector projecting said light beam onto the outer leads of the electronic component from an upper side of the outer leads, and said observation unit is a camera observing the outer leads from the underside of said transparent stage. 
     
     
       7. An electronic component observation system according to claim 5, wherein said transfer head is movable in a vertical direction, said stage is movable in a horizontal direction, and said observation unit is movable in horizontal and vertical directions. 
     
     
       8. An electronic component observation system according to claim 7, wherein said transfer head is also movable in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
       9. An electronic component observation system according to claim 7, further including an X-Y table, said observation unit being mounted on said X-Y table. 
     
     
       10. An electronic component observation system according to claim 5, wherein said lighting unit comprises at least one light projector, a light source, and an optical fiber interconnecting said light source and said light projector. 
     
     
       11. An electronic component observation system for observing an electronic component having a plurality of outer leads projecting from a body of the electronic component and formed on a normally curled flexible film carrier, comprising: a stage for supporting thereon the electronic component;   a movable transfer head;   drive means for moving the transfer head;   a vacuum nozzle associated with the transfer head for releasably holding thereon the electronic component by a suction force, the transfer head being movable by the drive means, with the electronic component held by the vacuum nozzle, to position the film carrier, remaining curled, against the stage;   a lighting unit movable to a position spaced from the component for illuminating the outer leads of the electronic components with a beam of light, the lighting unit having projections for pressing the film carrier against the stage to flatten the film carrier and the carried electrodes against the stage while the leads are illuminated;   an observation unit for observing the outer leads of the electronic components to detect an arrangement and position of the outer leads while they are illuminated and flattened against the stage; and   a static eliminator for removing static electricity from the stage.   
     
     
       12. An electronic component observation system according to claim 11, wherein said stage is transparent, said lighting unit comprises at least one light projector projecting said light beam onto the outer leads of the electronic component from an upper side of the outer leads, and said observation unit is a camera observing the outer leads from the underside of said transparent stage. 
     
     
       13. An electronic component observation system according to claim 11, wherein said transfer head is movable in a vertical direction, said stage is movable in a horizontal direction, and said observation unit is movable in horizontal and vertical directions. 
     
     
       14. An electronic component observation system according to claim 13, wherein said transfer head is movable also in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
       15. An electronic component observation system according to claim 13, further including an X-Y table, said observation unit being mounted on said X-Y table. 
     
     
       16. An electronic component observation system according to claim 11, wherein said lighting unit comprises at least one light projector, a light source, and an optical fiber interconnecting said light source and said light projector. 
     
     
       17. An electronic component observation system according to claim 11, wherein said static eliminator comprises an ion source for producing gas ions, a tube, and at least one spout connected by said tube to said ion source and disposed adjacent to said stage for emitting the gas ions onto said stage.